FCC Part 97 Regulations Governin

(Not to be confused with ARES - there is no FCC definition specifically for ARES other than the normal regulations governing all amateur operation)

§97.407 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
(a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club, or military recreation
station and it is certified by a civil defense organization as registered with that organization, or it is an
FCC-licensed RACES station. No person may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may be
the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds a FCCissued
amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that
organization.
(b) The frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control operator are available to
stations transmitting communications in RACES on a shared basis with the amateur service. In the
event of an emergency which necessitates the invoking of the President’s War Emergency Powers
under the provisions of Section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §606,
RACES stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the following
frequency segments:
(1) The 1800-1825 kHz, 1975-2000 kHz, 3.50-3.55 MHz, 3.93-3.98 MHz, 3.984-4.000 MHz, 7.079-
7.125 MHz, 7.245-7.255 MHz, 10.10-10.15 MHz, 14.047-14.053 MHz, 14.22-14.23 MHz, 14.331-
14.350 MHz, 21.047-21.053 MHz, 21.228-21.267 MHz, 28.55-28.75 MHz, 29.237-29.273 MHz,
29.45-29.65 MHz, 50.35-50.75 MHz, 52-54 MHz, 144.50-145.71 MHz, 146-148 MHz, 2390-2450
MHz segments;
(2) The 1.25 m, 70 cm and 23 cm bands; and
(3) The channels at 3.997 MHz and 53.30 MHz may be used in emergency areas when required to make
initial contact with a military unit and for communications with military stations on matters
requiring coordination.
(c) A RACES station may only communicate with:
(1) Another RACES station;
(2) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization;
(3) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to communicate with
RACES stations;
(4) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC.
(d) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only communicate with:
(1) A RACES station licensed to the civil defense organization with which the amateur station is
registered;
(2) The following stations upon authorization of the responsible civil defense official for the
organization with which the amateur station is registered:
(i) A RACES station licensed to another civil defense organization;
(ii) An amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense organization;
(iii) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to communicate with
RACES stations; and
(iv) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the
FCC.
(e) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil defense
organization for the area served. Only civil defense communications of the following types may be
transmitted:
(1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public safety, or affecting the
national defense or security during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies;
(2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals, the immediate protection of
property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and the combating
of armed attack or sabotage;
(3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public information or
instructions to the civilian population essential to the activities of the civil defense organization or
other authorized governmental or relief agencies; and
(4) Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the establishment and
maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as ordered by the responsible civil
defense organizations served. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week.
With the approval of the chief officer for emergency planning in the applicable State,
Commonwealth, District or territory, however, such tests and drills may be conducted for a period
not to exceed 72 hours no more than twice in any calendar year.